Cleveland’s Core Faces CBA Crunch, but Franchise Not Rushing Toward Break-Up
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The Cleveland Cavaliers could soon confront difficult roster decisions as the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement tightens rules for high-spending clubs, according to reporting by Fred Katz of The Athletic.
Financial pressure
Cleveland is almost $40 million above the luxury-tax threshold and is currently projected to be the league’s lone team sitting above the second apron for the 2025-26 season. Teams operating in that band lose access to the mid-level exception, cannot combine player salaries in trades, are barred from sign-and-trades for incoming players and face limits on cash transactions.
Comparison to Boston
Katz noted that the Celtics, after years above the second apron, were forced to rework their roster following Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury in order to regain payroll flexibility. The Cavaliers, who have not reached a conference finals with the quartet of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, could encounter a similar dilemma if on-court results lag behind escalating costs.
Recent postseason shortcomings
The Cavaliers’ 2025 playoff run ended in the second round, hampered by injuries and a hot Indiana Pacers squad. During that five-game series Cleveland hit just 29 percent of its three-point attempts, saw late-game execution falter and had its depth exposed.
Ownership’s track record
Despite the looming financial strain, majority owner Dan Gilbert has historically been willing to spend on competitive rosters, and the club currently carries no immovable contracts. Options include moving smaller deals, staggering future extensions or taking advantage of league-wide adjustments as front offices adapt to the new CBA.
The road ahead
While Katz frames the 2024-25 campaign as pivotal, sources around the team suggest it is not necessarily a “last dance” for the current core. Continued progress—particularly a breakthrough to at least the conference finals—could persuade ownership to keep the group together even under the second-apron penalties.
The Cavaliers enter the season balancing championship ambitions with a financial landscape that offers little margin for error.
Source: Hoops Wire
